Ladder



July 4, 1967 I H.K.GULD| 3,329,238

LADDER Filed July 15, 1965 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,329,233 LADDER Howard K. Guldi, 950 E. Lincoln, Madison Heights, Mich. 48071 Filed July 15, 1965, Ser. No. 472,282 13 Claims. (Cl. 182-70) The instant invention relates to a collapsible ladder assembly of the type suitable for use as a fire escape and, more specifically, to aladder including a cable having two parallel flexible strands adapted for attachment to a support structure at one end thereof with a plurality of rungs of novel structure each slidable along a respective length of the strands for facilitating rolling up of the assembly into a storage means and adapted for engaging a wall for maintaining the strands a predetermined distance away from the wall.

Collapsible ladder assemblies having various structural components which are adaptable for use as fire escapes are well known in the prior art. Frequently, such assemlblies utilize a storage facility mounted on the wall of a building such that the ladder assembly may be stored therein. The storage facility is attached to the wall of a building either on the inside or the outside of the building adjacent a door or window. In order to facilitate the ascent or descent of a person up or down the wall of a building on such a ladder assembly, it is necessary that the tread of the rungs of the ladder which a person grips and steps upon be maintained a predetermined distance from the wall of the building. The rung structures which have heretofore been utilized to maintain the tread portion of each rung a predetermined distance away from the wall of a building are cumbersome and bulky so as to prevent the collapsing of the ladder into a compact package for storage in a storage facility, thus, requiring a large bulky storage facility. Large storage facilities are cumbersome, unattractive and space-consurning.

In addition to the bulky rung structure, ladders which have heretofore been utilized frequently employ rigid members interconnecting adjacent rungs. Such members are frequently links or bulky chains which prevent the collapse of the ladder assembly into a compact package.

Accordingly, it is an object and general feature of the instant invention to provide a collapsible ladder assembly of the type suitable for use as a fire escape wherein the rungs are adapted to maintain the tread portion thereof at a distance from the wall of a building and a combination of elements associated with the run-gs to facilitate the rolling up of the ladder assembly into a compact unit for storage in a storage facility of minimum volume.

A correlative object and feature, therefore, is to provide a collapsible ladder assembly comprising a novel combination of elements, which ladder assembly is capable of accomplishing results not attainable by ladder assemblies heretofore known in the prior art; to wit, the ability to be rolled up into a compact storage facility.

Another object and feature of the present invention is to provide a unique rung structure adaptable for use in a collapsible ladder.

In general, these and other objects and features of the present invention may be attained by a collapsible ladder assembly including a cable having two flexible strands adapted for attachment to a support structure at a first end thereof and a plurality of rung means each slidable along a respective length of the strands. Each of the rung means includes a tread portion having holes adjacent each extremity so that one of the strands may pass through each of the holes. The rung means also includes a leg integral with each extremity of the tread portion and disposed so that the legs of each tread portion diverge from one another in a disposition for contacting the wall of 3,329,238 Patented July 4, 1967 "ice a structure to maintain the tread portion a predetermined distance from the wall. A substantially V-shaped member extends between the extremities of the tread portion and is attached by the upward ends of the legs of the V shape to the sides of the tread portion. The V-shaped member has a hole therethrough adjacent each end thereof so that one of the strands may pass through each of the holes. A retainer means is secured to each of the strands at predetermined positions therealong for engaging the V- shaped member to limit sliding in one: direction of the rung means disposed on one side thereof and for engaging the tread portion to limit the sliding movement in the opposite direction of the rung means disposed on the other side thereof. The assembly also includes a storage means adapted for attachment to a support structure for storing the ladder assembly when rolled up.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view partly broken away and partly in cross section of a preferred embodiment of the present invention and showing the ladder thereof disposed along the exterior of a wall of a structure;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side view partly broken away and partly in cross section of the ladder of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view in reduced scale taken substantially along line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 5 -5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view taken substantially along line 66 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown generally at 10 a collapsible ladder assembly constructed in accordance with the instant invention. The ladder assembly lll includes a cable means, generally shown at 12, a plurality of rung means, each generally shown at 14, and storage means, generally shown at 16.

The cable means 12 includes two parallel flexible strands 18. The cable means 12 is adapted for attachment to a support structure at a first end thereof, as illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7, which will be more fully described hereinafter.

Each of the rung means 14 is slidable along a respective length of each of the strands 18 and is adapted for en gaging a wall 20 to maintain the strands 18 a predetermined distance away from the wall 20. The rung means 14 includes a tread portion 22 which has holes adjacent each extremity thereof so that one of the strands 18 passes through each of the holes 24. A leg 26 is integral with each extremity of the tread portion 22 and is disposed so that the legs 26 of each tread portion 22 diverge from one another and extend substantially perpendicularly away from the segment of the strand 18 which passes through the holes 24 so that the legs 26 will maintain the strands 18 inwardly of the extremities of the tread portion 22 as the ladder is rolled up to form a spiral of each of the strands 18 as illustrated in FIGURE 7.

The rung means 14 also includes a substantially V- shaped member 28 which extends between the extremities of the tread portion 22 and is attached by the upward end of each leg of the V shape at 30 to the sides of the tread portion 22. The V-shaped member 28 is attached to the sides of the tread portion 22 by the flanges 32 which extend along each side of the tread portion 22 and overlap the outer surfaces of the legs of the V-shaped member 28. Each V-shaped member 28 has a hole 34 therethrough adjacent each end thereof through which one of the strands 18 passes.

A retainer means 36 is secured to each of the strands 18 at predetermined positions therealong for engaging the V-shaped member 28 to limit sliding movement in one direction of the rung means 14 dispOsed on the upper side of each retaining means 36 and for engaging the tread portion 22 to limit sliding movement in the opposite direction of the rung means 14 disposed on the lower side thereof. That is to say, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, the retaining means 36' limits sliding movement of the rung means 14' in one direction downward along the strands 18 and limits sliding movement of the rung means 14 in an upward direction along the strands 18. There is also included an additional retaining means 38 secured to each of the strands 18 adjacent the tread portion 22 of the uppermost rung means 14" so that the uppermost rung means 14" is prevented from sliding in either direction along the strands 18. The uppermost rung means 14" is prevented from sliding in either direction along the strands 18 so that the uppermost rung 14 Will always be disposed on the window sill 40 when the ladder is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to facilitate gripping of the ladder by a person passing through the window 42 to ascend or descend the wall 20 of the building.

The storage means 16 is adapted for attachment to a support structure, such as the wall 20, for storing the ladder when rolled up as illustrated in FIGURE 7. The storage means 16 includes a housing, generally shown at 44. The housing 44 includes a flat wall 46 having opposite ends 48 and parallel sides 50. The housing also has a curved wall means 52 which interconnects the parallel sides 50 of the flat wall 46. Also included in the housing 44 are the end walls 54 which interconnect each of the opposite ends 48 of the fiat wall 46 and the extremities of the curved wall means 52. The curved wall means 52 is hinged by the hinge 56 to provide a hinged portion forming the door 58. The door 58 may be rotated to an open position as illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7 to provide access into the housing 44. A locking means 60 is attached to the door 58 for selectively and operatively interconnecting the door 58 with the fiat side 46 for preventing rotation of the door 58. The locking means 60 has a rotatable link 62 which engages the flange 64 to selectively prevent rotation of the door 58. As is illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 7, the door 58 when in the open position provides a step which may be utilized by a person in ascending to and through the window 42. There is also included a brace 66 extending between the opposite ends 48 of the fiat wall 46 within the housing 44 for preventing buckling of the flat wall 46.

The storage means 16 also includes a mounting means, generally shown at 68, for securing the housing 44 and the cable means 12 to a support structure such as the wall 20. The mounting means 68 includes a strap 70 having a loop 72 in one end thereof for retaining the end of the cable means 12 therein. The cable means 12 includes a continuous length of flexible cable to provide a pair of parallel strands 18 and has a loop 74 at one end thereof due to the strand securing means 76. Fastening means comprising the screws 78 extend through the strap 70 and the fiat wall 46 of the housing 44 for securement to the support structure such as the wall 20 so that the flat wall 46 contacts the wall 20 on the exterior of the housing 44. The brace 66 maintains the fiat wall substantially plane or flat when the screws 78 are screwed into the wall 20.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, the instant invention sets forth the novel combination of com ponents such that the ladder as disclosed in FIGURE 1 may be rolled up so that the strands 18 form a. spiral with the legs 26 of each of the rung means 14 radiating outwardly from the roll. Thus, as the ladder is rolled, the legs 26 radiate outwardly and diverge such that upon rolling the strands 18 on the exterior of the rolled portion of the ladder the legs 26 will guide the strands 18igwardly thereof. Furthermore, since each rung means 14 may slide along a predetermined length of the strands 18 between retainer means 36, the rung means 14 may be positioned along the strands 18 as the ladder is rolled up such that each rung means 14 is placed on the roll. in a position to facilitate the maximum compactness of the rolled ladder, which is illustrated in FIGURE 7.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A rung means adapted for use in a collapsible ladder assembly of the type suitable for use as a fire escape, said rung means comprising: a thread portion having holes adjacent each extremity thereof so that a strand may pass through each of said holes, a leg integral with each extremity of said tread portion and disposed so that the legs of said tread portion diverge from one another, a substantially V-shaped member extending between said extremities of said tread portion and attached by the upward end of each leg of the V shape to the sides of said treat portion, said V-shaped member having a hole therethrough adjacent each end thereof through which one of said strands may pass, and said V-shaped member attached to the sides of said tread portion by flanges extending along each side of said tread portion and overlapping the outer surfaces of said legs of said V-shaped member.

2. A collapsible ladder assembly comprising: cable means having two parallel flexible single strands adapted for attachment to a support structure at a first end thereof; -a plurality of rung means each slidable along a respective length of said strands and adapted for engaging a wall to maintain said strands a predetermined distance away from the wall; each of said rung means including, a thread portion having holes adjacent each extremity thereof so that one of said strands passes through each of said holes, a leg integral with each extremity of said tread portion and disposed so that the legs of said tread portion diverge from one another and extend substantially prependicularly away from the segment of said strands passing through said holes in said tread portion so that said legs will maintain said strands inwardly of said extremities of said tread portions, said ladder is rolled up to form a spiral of each of said strands, and retainer means secured to each of said strands at predetermined positions therealong for limiting sliding in one direction of the rung means disposed on one side thereof and for limiting sliding movement in the opposite direction of the rung means disposed on the other side thereof to allow each of said rung means to move along said strand so as to be compactly disposed among other rung means as said ladder is rolled up.

3. A collapsible ladder assembly comprising: cable means having two parallel flexible strands adapted for attachment to a support structure at a first end thereof; a plurality of rung means each slidable along a respective length of said strands and adapted for engaging a wall to maintain said strands a predetermined distance away from the wall; each of said rung means including, a tread portion having holes adjacent each extremity thereof so that one of said strands passes through each of said holes, a leg integral with each extremity of said tread portion and disposed so that the legs of said tread portion diverge from one another and extend substantially perpendicularly away from the segment of said strands passing through said holes in said tread portion so that said legs will maintain said strands inwardly of said extremities of said tread portions as said ladder is rolled up to form a spiral of each of said strands, a substantially V-shaped member extending between said extremities of said tread portion and attached by the upward end of each leg of the V shape to the sides of said tread portion, said V-shaped member having a hole therethrough adjacent each end thereof through which one of said strands passes, and retainer means secured to each of said strands at predetermined positions therealong for engaging said V- shaped member to limit sliding in one direction of the rung means disposed on one side thereof and for engaging said tread portion to limit sliding movement in the opposite direction of the rung means disposed on the other side thereof.

4. A collapsible ladder assembly of the type suitable for use as a fire escape comprising: cable means having two parallel flexible strands adapted for attachment to a support structure at a first end thereof; a plurality of rung means each slidable along a respective length of said strands and adapted for engaging a wall to maintain said strands a predetermined distance away from the wall; each of said rung means including, a tread portion having holes adjacent each extremity thereof so that one of said strands passes through each of said holes, a leg integral with each extremity of said tread portion and disposed so that the legs of said tread portion diverge from one another and extend substantially perpendicularly away from the segment of said strands passing through said holes in said tread portion so that said legs will maintain said strands inwardly of said extremities of said tread portions as said ladder is rolled up to form a spiral of each of said strands, a substantially V-shaped member extending between said extremities of said tread portion and attached by the upward end of each leg of the V shape to the sides of said tread portion, said V-shaped member having a hole therethrough adjacent each end thereof through one of said strands passes, said V-shaped member attached to the sides of said tread portion by flanges extending along each side of said tread portion and overlapping the outer surfaces of said legs of said V-shaped member, retainer means secured to each of said strands at predetermined positions therealong for engaging said V-shaped member to limit sliding in one direction of the rung means disposed on one side thereof and for engaging said tread portion to limit sliding movement in the opposite direction of the rung means disposed on the other side thereof, and additional retaining means'secured to each of said strands adjacent the tread portion of the uppermost rung means so that said uppermost rung means is prevented from sliding in either direction along said strands.

5. A collapsible ladder assembly of the type suitable for use as a fire escape comprising: cable means having two parallel flexible strands adapted for attachment to a support structure at a first end thereof; a plurality of rung means each slidable along a respective length of said strands and adapted for engaging a wall to maintain said strands a predetermined distance away from the wall; each of said rung means including, a tread portion having holes adjacent each extremity thereof so that one of said strands passes through each of said holes, a leg integral with each extremity of said treat portion and disposed so that the legs of said tread portion diverge from one another and extend substantially perpendicularly away from the segment of said strands passing through said holes in said tread portion so that said legs will maintain said strands inwardly of said extremities of said tread portions as said ladder is rolled up to form a spiral of each of said strands, a substantially V-shaped member extending between said extremities of said tread portions and attached by the upward end of each leg of the V shape to the sides of said tread portion, said V-shaped member having a hole therethrough adjacent each end thereof through which one of said strands passes, retainer means secured to each of said strands at predetermined positions therealong for engaging said V-shaped member to limit sliding in one direction of the rung means disposed on one side thereof and for engaging said tread portion to limit sliding movement in the opposite direction of the rung means disposed on the other side thereof, and storage means adapted for attachment to said support structure and for storing said ladder when rolled up.

6. A collapsible ladder assembly of the type suitable for use as a fire escape comprising: cable means having two parallel flexible strands adapted for attachment to a support structure at a first end thereof; a plurality of rung means each slidable along a respective length of said strands and adapted for engaging a wall to maintain said strands a predetermined distance away from the wall; each of said rung means including, a tread portion having holes adjacent each extremity thereof so that one of said strands passes through each of said holes, a leg integral with each extremity of said tread portion and disposed so that the legs of said tread portion diverge from one another and extend substantially perpendicularly away from the segment of said strands passing through said holes in said tread portion so that said legs will maintain said strands inwardly of said extremities of said tread portions as said ladder is rolled up to form a spiral of each of said strands, a substantially V-shaped member extending between said extremities of said tread portion and attached by the upward end of each leg of the V shape to the sides of said tread portion, said V-shaped member having a hole therethrough adjacent each end thereof through which one of said strands passes, said V-shaped member attached to the sides of said tread portion by flanges extending along each side of said tread portion and overlapping the outer surfaces of said legs of said V-shaped member, retainer means secured to each of said strands at predetermined positions there along for engaging said V-shaped member to limit sliding in one direction of the run means disposed on one side thereof and for engaging said tread portion to limit sliding movement in the opposite direction of the run means disposed on the other side thereof, additional retaining means secured to each of said strands adjacent the tread portion of the uppermost rung means so that said uppermost rung means is prevented from sliding in either direction along said strands; and storage means adapted for attachment to said support structure and for storing said ladder when rolled up.

7. A collapsible ladder assembly of the type suitable for use as a fire escape comprising: cable means having two parallel flexible strands adapted for attachment to a support structure at a first end thereof; a plurality of rung means each slidable along a respective length of said strands and adapted for engaging a wall to maintain said strands a predetermined distance away from the wall; each of said rung means including, a tread portion having holes adjacent each extremity thereof so that one of said strands passes through each of said holes, a leg integral with each extremity of said tread portion and disposed so that the legs of said tread portion diverge from one another and extend substantially perpendicularly away from the segment of said strands passing through said holes in said tread portion so that said legs will maintain said strands inwardly of said extremities of said tread portions as said ladder is rolled up to form a spiral of each of said strands, a substantially V-shaped member extending between said extremities of said tread portion and attached by the upward end of each leg of the V shape to the sides of said tread portion, said V-shaped member having a hole therethrough adjacent each end thereof through which one of said strands passes, retainer means secured to each of said strands at predetermined positions therealong for engaging said V-shaped member to limit sliding in one direction of the rung means disposed on one side thereof and for engaging said tread portion to limit sliding movement in the opposite direction of the rung means disposed on the other side thereof, storage means adapted for attachment to said support structure and for storing said ladder when rolled up and including, a housing having a hinged portion thereof forming a door for allowing said door to be rotated to an open position for access into said housing, said door adapted to provide a step When in said open position, and mounting means for securing said housing and said cable means to said support structure.

8. A collapsible ladder assembly of the type suitable for use as a fire escape comprising: cable means having two parallel flexible strands adapted for attachment to a support structure at a first end thereof; a plurality of rung means each slidable along a respective length of said strands and adapted for engaging a wall to maintain said strands a predetermined distance away from the wall; each of said rung means including, a tread portion having holes adjacent each extremity thereof so that one of said strands passes through each of said holes, a leg integral with each extremity of said tread portion and disposed so that the legs of said tread portion diverge from one another and extend substantially perpendicularly away from the segment of said strands passing through said holes in said tread portion so that said legs will maintain said strands inwardly of said extremities of said tread portions as said ladder is rolled up to form a spiral of each of said strands, a substantially V-shaped member extending between said extremities of said tread portion and attached by the upward end of each leg of the V shape to the sides of said tread portion, said V- shaped member having a hole therethrough adjacent each end thereof through which one of said strands passes, said V-shaped member attached to the sides of said tread portion by flanges extending along each side of said tread portion and overlapping the outer surfaces of said legs of said V-shaped member, retainer means secured to each of said strands at predetermined positions therealong for engaging said V-shaped member to limit sliding in one direction of the rung means disposed on one side thereof and for engaging said tread portion to limit sliding movement in the opposite direction of the rung means disposed on the other side thereof, additional retaining means secured to each of said strands adjacent the tread portion of the uppermost rung means so that said uppermost rung means is prevented from sliding in either direction along said strands; storage means adapted for attachment to said support structure and for storing said ladder when rolled up and including, a housing having a hinged portion thereof forming a door for allowing said door to be rotated to an open position for access into said housing, said door adapted to provide a step when in said open position, and mounting means for securing said housing and said cable means to said support structure.

9. A collapsible ladder assembly of the type suitable for use as a fire escape comprising: cable means having two parallel flexible strands adapted for attachment to a support structure at a first end thereof; a plurality of rung means each slidable along a respective length of said strands and adapted for engaging a wall to maintain said strands a predetermined distance away from the wall; storage means adapted for attachment to said support structure and for storing said ladder when rolled up and including, a housing having a first flat wall with opposite ends and parallel sides, curved wall means interconnecting said parallel sides, and end walls interconnecting said opposite ends of said flat wall and the extremities of said curved wall means, said curved wall means having a hinged portion thereof forming a door for allowing said door to be rotated to an open position for access into said housing, a locking means selectively and operatively interconnecting said flat side and said door for selectively preventing rotation of said door, said door adapted to provide a step when in said open position, a brace extending between said opposite ends of said fiat wall within said housing for preventing buckling of said flat wall, mounting means for securing said housing and said cable means to said support structure and including, a strap having a loop in one end thereof for retaining said first end of said cable means, and fastener means extending through said strap and said flat wall of said housing for securement to a support structure so that said flat wall of said housing contacts said support structure on the exterior of said housing.

10. A collapsible ladder assembly of the type suitable for use as a fire escape comprising: cable means having two parallel flexible strands adapted for attachment to a support structure at a first end thereof; a plurality of rung means each slidable along a respective length of said strands and adapted for engaging a wall to maintain said strands a predetermined distance away from the wall; each of said rung means including, a tread portion having holes adajacent each extremity thereof so that one of said strands passes through each of said holes, a leg integral with each extremity of said tread portion and disposed so that the legs of said tread portion diverge from one another and extend substantially perpendicularly away from the segment of said strands passing through said holes in said tread portion so that said legs will maintain said strands inwardly of said extremities of said tread portions as said ladder is rolled up to form a spiral of each of said strands, a substantially V-shaped member extending between said extremities of said tread portion and attached by the upward end of each leg of the V shape to the sides of said tread portion, said V-shaped member having a hole therethrough adjacent each end thereof through which one of said strands passes, said V-shaped member attached to the sides of said tread portion by flanges extending along each side of said tread portion and overlapping the outer surfaces of said legs of said V-shaped member, retainer means secured to each of said strands at predetermined positions therealong for engaging said V- shaped member to limit sliding in one direction of the rung means disposed on one side thereof and for engaging said tread portion to limit sliding movement in the opposite direction of the rung means disposed on the other side thereof, additional retaining means secured to each of said strands adjacent the tread portion of the uppermost rung means so that said uppermost rung means is prevented from sliding in either direction along said strands; storage means adapted for attachment to said support structure and for storing said ladder when rolled up, mounting means for securing said storage means and said cable means to said support structure and including, a strap having a loop in one end thereof for retaining said first end of said cable means, and fastener means extending through said strap and said fiat wall of said housing for securement to a support structure so that said flat wall of said housing contacts said support structure on the exterior of said housing.

11. A collapsible ladderassembly of the type suitable for use as a fire escape comprising: cable means having two parallel flexible strands adapted for attachment to a support structure at a first end thereof; a plurality of rung means each slidable along a respective length of said strands and adapted for engaging a wall to maintain said strands a predetermined distance away from the wall; each of said rung means including, a tread portion having holes adjacent each extremity thereof so that one of said strands passes through each of said holes, a leg integral with each extremity of said tread portion and disposed so that the legs of said tread portion diverge from one another and extend substantially perpendicularly away from the segment of said strands passing through said holes in said tread portion so that said legs will maintain said strands inwardly of said extremities of said tread portions as said ladder is rolled up to form a spiral of each of said strands, a substantially V-shaped member extending between said extremities of said tread portion and attached by the upward end of each leg of the V shape to the sides of said tread portion, said V-shaped member having a hole therethrough adjacent each end thereof through which one of said strands passes, said V-shaped member attached to the sides of said tread portion by flanges extending along each side of said tread portion and overlapping the outer surfaces of said legs of said V-shaped member, retainer means secured to each of said strands at predetermined positions thcrealong for engaging said V-shaped member to limit sliding in one direction of the rung means disposed on one side thereof and for engaging said tread portion to limit sliding movement in the opposite direction of the rung means disposed on the other side thereof, additional retaining means secured to each of said strands adjacent the tread portion of the uppermost rung means so that said uppermost rung means is prevented front sliding in either direction along said strands; storage means adapted for attachment to said support structure and for storing said ladder when rolled up and including, a housing having a first fiat Wall with opposite ends and parallel sides, curved Wall means interconnecting said parallel sides, and end Walls interconnecting said opposite ends of said flat wall and the extremities of said curved wall means, said curved wall means having a hinged portion thereof forming a door for allowing said door to be rotated to an open position for access into said housing, a locking means selectively and operatively interconnecting said flat side and said door for selectively preventing rotation of said door, said door adapted to provide a step when in said open position, a brace extending between said opposite ends of said flat wall within said housing for preventing buckling of said fiat wall, and mounting means for securing said housing and said cable means to said support structure.

12. A collapsible ladder assembly of the type suitable for use as a fire escape comprising: cable means having two parallel flexible strands adapted for attachment to a support structure at a first end thereof; a plurality of rung means each slidable along a respective length of said strands and adapted for engaging a Wall to maintain said strands a predetermined distance away from the wall; each of said rung means including, a tread portion having holes adjacent each extremity thereof so that one of said strands passes through each of said holes, a leg integral with each extremity of said tread portion and disposed so that the legs of said tread portion diverge from one another and extend substantially perpendicularly away from the segment of said strands passing through said holes in said tread portion so that said legs will maintain said strands inwardly of said extremities of said tread portions as said ladder is rolled up to form a spiral of each of said strands, a substantially V-shaped member extending between said extremities of said tread portion and attached by the upward end of each leg of the V- shape to the sides of said tread portion, said V-shaped member having a hole therethrough adjacent each end thereof through which one of said strands passes, said V-shaped member attached to the sides of said tread portion by flanges extending along each side of said tread portion and overlapping the outer surfaces of said legs of said V-shaped member, retainer means secured to each of said strands at predetermined positions therealong for engaging said V-shaped member to limit sliding in one direction of the rung means disposed on one side thereof and for engaging said tread portion to limit sliding movement in the opposite direction of the rung means disposed on the other side thereof, additional retaining means secured to each of said strands adjacent the tread portion of the uppermost rung means so that said uppermost rung means is prevented from sliding in either direction along said strands; storage means adapted for at tachment to said support structure and for storing said ladder when rolled up and including, a housing having a first flat wall with opposite ends and parallel sides, curved wall means interconnecting said. parallel sides, and end walls interconnecting said opposite ends of said flat wall and the extremities of said curved wall means, said curved wall means having a hinged portion thereof forming a door for allowing said door to be rotated to an open position for access into said housing, a locking means selectively and operatively interconnecting said flat side and said door for selectively preventing rotation of said door, said door adapted to provide a step when in said open position, a brace extending between said opposite ends of said flat wall within said housing for preventing buckling of said fiat wall, mounting means for securing said housing and said cable means to said support structure and including, a strap having a loop in one end thereof for retaining said first end of said cable means, and fastener means extending through said strap and said flat wall of said housing for securement to a support structure so that said fiat wall of said housing contacts said support structure on the exterior of said housing.

13. A collapsible ladder assembly comprising: cable means having two parallel flexible single strands adapted for attachment to a support structure at a first end thereof; a plurality of rung means each slidable along a respective length of said strands and adapted for engaging a wall to maintain said strands a predetermined distance away from the wall; each of said rung means including, a tread portion having holes adjacent each extremity thereof so that one of said strands passes through each of said holes, a leg integral with each extremity of said tread portion and disposed so that: the legs of said tread portion diverge from one another and extend substantially perpendicularly away from the segment of said strands passing through said holes in said tread portion so that said legs will maintain said strands inwardly of said extremities of said tread portions as said ladder is rolled up to form a spiral of each of said strands, a member extending between said extremities of said tread portion and attached to the sides of said tread portion, said member having a hole therethrough adjacent each end thereof through which one of said strands passes, and retainer means secured to each of said strands at predetermined positions therealong for engaging said member to limit sliding in one direction of the rung means disposed on one side thereof and for engaging said tread portion to limit sliding movement in the opposite direction of the rung means disposed on the other side thereof to allow each of said rung means to move along said strands so as to be compactly disposed among other rung means as said ladder is rolled up.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,329,238 July 4, 1967 Howard K. Guldi It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, lines 26 and 48, for "thread", each occurrence,

read tread line 34, for "treat" read tread line 53, for "prependicularly" read perpendicularly column 5, line 42, after "through" insert which line 67, for "treat" read tread e Signed and sealed this 18th day of June 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A RUNG MEANS ADAPTED FOR USE IN A COLLAPSIBLE LADDER ASSEMBLY OF THE TYPE SUITABLE FOR USE AS A FIRE ESCAPE, SAID RUNG MEANS COMPRISING: A THREAD PORTION HAVING HOLES ADJACENT EACH EXTREMITY THEREOF SO THAT A STRAND MAY PASS THROUGH EACH OF SAID HOLES, A LEG INTEGRAL WITH EACH EXTREMITY OF SAID TREAD PORTION AND DISPOSED SO THAT THE LEGS OF SAID TREAD PORTION DIVERGE FROM ONE ANOTHER, A SUBSTANTIALLY V-SHAPED MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID EXTREMITIES OF SAID TREAD PORTION AND ATTACHED BY THE UPWARD END OF EACH LEG OF THE V-SHAPED TO THE SIDES OF SAID TREAT PORTION, SAID V-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING A HOLE THERETHROUGH ADJACENT EACH END THEREOF THROUGH WHICH ONE OF SAID STRANDS MAY PASS, AND SAID V-SHAPED MEMBER ATTACHED TO THE SIDES OF SAID TREAD PORTION BY FLANGES EXTENDING ALONG EACH SIDE OF SAID TREAD PORTION AND OVERLAPPING THE OUTER SURFACES OF SAID LEGS OF SAID V-SHAPED MEMBER. 